Advent magic – how do preparations for Christmas affect a child's emotions?

Do you remember the smell of gingerbread cookies baked with your grandmother before Christmas Eve? The excitement of opening each window on the Advent calendar? These pre-Christmas moments are not just about preparations – they are about building a child's emotional foundation. Psychologists agree: it is the process of anticipation and joint preparations that shape a child's ability to enjoy life and form relationships.

Why are preparations as important as the holidays themselves?

Preparing together gives your child something priceless – a sense of agency. When a three-year-old helps cut out paper stars and a seven-year-old decorates gingerbread cookies on their own, they feel that their contribution matters. They learn that beauty takes time and effort, and that the greatest joy comes from what we create together.

For a child, December preparations are a school for the most important emotional skills. They learn patience as they count down the days to Christmas Eve, and develop creativity as they decorate their room or gingerbread cookies. Everything happens naturally, in an atmosphere of joy and family warmth.

Advent calendar – a daily wait full of magic

An Advent calendar is more than just a countdown. It is a ritual that teaches children patience and the ability to enjoy small things. It does not have to be bought – on the contrary, the most valuable ones are those made together.

You can prepare 24 small envelopes with tasks for the whole family. Let each day bring a shared activity:

• today we decorate the Christmas tree together
• an evening of carols over tea
• we make paper decorations,
• we write a letter to Santa

Children learn that it is not things that are most valuable, but time spent together.

Some families create a calendar with small gestures of kindness:

• today, hug every member of the family
• say something nice to someone
• help your mum without being asked

This is a beautiful lesson, showing that Christmas is also a time for giving.

Baking gingerbread cookies – a tradition that engages all the senses

Baking gingerbread cookies together is one of the most lasting childhood memories. Why? Because it engages all the senses at once. The touch of soft dough, the smell of cinnamon and cloves, the laughter while decorating.

Research shows that memories associated with smells are the most lasting. The smell of gingerbread is associated with the warmth of home and Christmas throughout life. When a child grows up and bakes gingerbread with their own children, they will surely think back to their childhood.

While baking, children also acquire specific skills: measuring ingredients (maths!), patience (you have to wait until the dough is ready), cooperation (everyone has their role).

Decorating the Christmas tree – a ritual that connects generations

Decorating the Christmas tree together is a moment that brings the whole family together. Children learn that their contribution is important – even if all the baubles hang on one branch at eye level. It is a lesson in acceptance and that everyone in the family is important.

A beautiful tradition is to buy one new bauble with the date on it each year. After many years, the Christmas tree becomes a living history of the family. Children can point out:

this is the bauble from the year I was born, and this one is from when I started school.

Often, each family member has their favourite decoration, which they place on the Christmas tree themselves. For a child, this is a moment of pride – they have their own special decoration that they can show to everyone.

Making decorations – time for creativity

Making decorations together is a great opportunity to develop creativity. Cutting out stars from paper, gluing chains, painting pine cones – these are simple activities that give the child a sense of creating something special.

It doesn't have to be perfect. Crooked stars and uneven chains are the most beautiful because they carry the pure joy of creation. When a child sees their decoration on the Christmas tree or in the window, they feel important and appreciated.

Shared traditions you can start today

It's never too late to start building Advent traditions. Here are a few ideas:

• Advent wreath – light another candle every Sunday and talk about what happened during the past week, what you are grateful for.
• Wish board – create a family board where everyone can stick pictures or write down what they dream of for Christmas. It's not about material things, but about spending time together, trips and experiences.
• Carols evening – choose one evening a week when you all listen to and sing carols together. You can drink cocoa and eat biscuits while you do so.
• Letter to Santa – help your child write a letter, but encourage them not only to ask for presents, but also to write about what they are proud of in the past year.

Presence is more important than perfection

Remember: your child will not remember whether the gingerbread cookies were perfect or the decorations were flawless. However, they will remember whether their mum laughed while decorating, whether their dad really listened to their ideas for decorations, and whether their parents were happy.

The pre-Christmas period is very important for your child. It is the moments spent together at a table covered in flour, the evenings by the Christmas tree, the little rituals that build a sense of security and love.

The magic of Christmas does not only happen on Christmas Eve. It is with us throughout December, in every moment we spend together, in every smile, in every gesture we share.